Online iPhone unlocking service...not sure if scam or just really bad service!

mazmataz

Okay so before everyone tells me so, yes I know I shouldn't even have given a second thought to handing money over to these guys...but I made an impulsive decision in a bid to have my phone unlocked within a few days...MISTAKE!! Here's what's happened so far and I really don't know where to go from here...

1. Paid 90 quid for my iPhone 4S to be unlocked at theiphoneunlock.co.uk. It was locked to EE who said it would take up to 28 days, these guys said 4 days and had okay reviews on giffgaff.com.

2. Literally within seconds of paying, my friend who works for EE told me he had requested the unlock through the network for me. I email these guys and asked them to cancel ASAP, as I was going to have to pay for the EE unlock anyway.

3. They email back and say 'no can do' as they unlocking process in automated and they can't stop it. I read the T&Cs and they have that on there, rightly or wrongly. Fair enough.

4. 10 days later still no unlock. I email them, they say they're having an unexpected delay and apologise.

5. About 8 days after that I get an email from them saying that my phone is ready to unlock.

6. It's not unlocked. Updated iTunes, updated my firmware, restored the phone yada yada yada...nothin! I email the iphoneunlock people, demanding a resolution or a refund.

7. I get told I must be doing something wrong as it's definitely unlocked. I worked for Orange for 5 years, I know how to unlock an iPhone. I send them a screenshot of the iTunes 'not unlocked' message.

8. I get told that I might have given them the wrong network/IMEI. No I didn't. !!!!!! this! I went to Apple...

9. Into the Genius Bar at the Apple Store. They check the IMEI...still locked to EE!! I ask them if they can provide proof that I can send to these nutjobs for a refund, they say they can't due to data protection...but told me to try and call Apple Care and see if they can send me anything.

10. Called Apple Care. The data protection thing still applies, although they confirm again that the phone is locked. They suggest that the people at theiphoneunlock.co.uk can call Apple and they will gladly confirm.

11. I sent an email to the roguesters, telling them what Apple told me. I highly doubt that they will make the effort to call Apple. I gave them the usual 'I demand a refund' etc etc and said that I would be contacting trading standards....

But in all honesty I really don't know where to go from here. I still have a locked iPhone and I'm 90 quid down, as far as I'm concerned it's been robbed from me. I paid on my debit card...do you think my bank (HBOS) will help? The only plan I have at the moment is to sign up to every review website I can find and warn everyone against them!

Any advice really would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jamie_Carter

The best way to unlock a phone is through the network that it is locked to. I don't know why EE take so long, as Vodafone have unlocked 4 handsets for me within hours.

I wouldn't trust the positive reviews on review sites for iphoneunlock, as it appears that they monitor them. And I wouldn't be surprised if many of the reviews are fake ones posted by them: http://www.trustpilot.co.uk/review/www.officialiphoneunlock.co.uk

It appears that most of the reviews on review centre are more accurate: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews246189.html

MamaMoo_2

As they have failed to unlock, you could try initiating a chargeback with your bank for services not received.

halibut2209

You worked for Orange for 5 years, and know how to unlock an iPhone, and went through an online site?

Wow.

Try the chargeback route

paddyrg

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 09-Jan-2012
Expiry date: 09-Jan-2014
Last updated: 30-Apr-2012

http://companycheck.co.uk/director/909500694

It's a newish company for the guy, see above link.

Remarkably, one of his registered addresses is 'Jingle Butts'. Postman must snigger every morning ;-)

mazmataz

Hey everyone, thanks for the (mostly!) helpful responses.

Jingle Butts? If only I had know lol...

I'll definitely look down the chargeback route...and I'm also chasing the unlock with EE. I wonder if the fact that two unlock requests were made to Apple at the same time has caused issues?

Thanks again...Happy Monday!